Boyle?s Eight Points Leads Host Boston Past Chesapeake, 16-13

Goalkeeper Turner records 16 saves for Bayhawks, who suffer just third loss

BOSTON, MA–Veteran attackman Ryan Boyle piled up eight points to lift the Boston Cannons to a 16-13 victory over the Chesapeake Bayhawks on Saturday at Harvard Stadium. Boyle, a perennial All-Star, was at his playmaking best in dishing off six assists and also scored two goals in being named Bud Light MVP.

Goalkeeper Kip Turner stood tall in the face of 50 shots and kept Chesapeake in the game with 16 saves against his former team. Attackman John Grant Jr. totaled six points on four goals and two assists for the Bayhawks (9-3), who wound up splitting a four-game road trip that lasted for the entire month of July.

“We played well in spurts, but were not consistent enough to win a hard-fought game against a very good team,” Chesapeake head coach Dave Cottle said. “We’re not going to win when Ryan Boyle is two and six. Rabil was a handful today and we had to slide to him. When we did that, Rabil moved the ball to Boyle who then found the open man.”

Midfielder Paul Rabil, a two-time Major League Lacrosse MVP, finished with five points on two goals and two assists as Boston (7-5) improved its chances of reaching the playoffs. Attackmen Kevin Buchanan and Ari Sussman scored three goals apiece for the defending MLL champions, who avenged a 14-13 loss to Chesapeake on June 23rd in Annapolis.

Midfielder Michael Kimmel also had a strong game with two goals and two assists for Chesapeake, which has already clinched a playoff berth and closes the season with home games against Long Island (Aug. 4th) and Denver (Aug. 11th).

Chesapeake started strong as midfielder Steven Brooks fired in a 2-pointer and attackmanDrew Westervelt scored on a power play to give the visitors an early 3-0 lead. However, Pat Heim and Matt Poskay responded with goals just over two minutes apart as Boston rallied and trailed 4-3 after one period.

It was back-and-forth in the second quarter with the score tied at four, five, six and seven. Grant scored back-to-back unassisted goals to give the Bayhawks some breathing room and they took a 9-8 lead into halftime.

Boston took control by outscoring Chesapeake 4-1 in the third period as Buchanan fired in two power-play goals and Sussman tallied twice off feeds from Boyle. Attackman Ben Rubeor snapped a Bayhawks scoreless streak of more than 15 minutes with a goal with 32 seconds left that cut the deficit to 12-10 going into the final frame.

Penalties would prove the Bayhawks’ downfall as they committed 11 for the game and six in the fourth quarter alone. Rubeor was whistled for being off-sides and slashing on the same play, giving Boston a power play opportunity early in the fourth period. Rabil proceeded to deliver a dagger by rocketing in a cannon crank shot past Turner for a 2-point goal that stretched the lead to 14-10.

“We fouled too much. We took fouls on the offensive end and you just can’t do that,” Cottle said. “We put our defense in bad position by forcing them to play man down too much.”

Boston led by as much as 16-11 when Chesapeake mounted a mini comeback. Versatile midfielder Matt Abbott scored directly off a faceoff then made a spectacular catch of a tough inside pass from Grant and converted from the crease to get the visitors within three, but Boston was able to salt away the remaining clock.

There was an intense battle at the faceoff stripe with Chris Eck narrowly getting the better of Adam Rand by winning 19 of 31 draws. Mike Stone had two goals and an assist while fellow midfielder Pat Heim had a goal and two assists for Boston, which had lost five of eight after starting the season 4-0.

The Bayhawks return home on Saturday, August 4th to battle their long time rivals the Long Island Lizards. Papa John’s will be giving away thunder sticks at the gates. Tickets can be purchased online at www.thebayhawks.comor over the phone by calling the box office 866-99-HAWKS (42957). Reserve your seat today and see the Bayhawks battle at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium this summer.